An exchange student comes to OHS
By Olivia Kerber
Photo of a Firuza Fozilbekova taken by Olivia Kerber
Firuza Fozilbekova, who has now become a senior at Owasso High School, did not always attend a school in the United States. In fact—this is Fozilbekova’s first and only year at our school, since she is a foreign exchange student from Tajikistan.
Fozilbekova is currently wrapping up her time in the United States. Whether it was going to football games all the way in Jenks at Allen Trimble Stadium, or attending debate tournaments with Owasso’s Speech and Debate Team, Fozilbekova has truly experienced life as an American high school student.
Fozilbekova states, “It's been really interesting—fascinating—I would say. I’ve had a really great time with some of my friends I’ve made in this high school.”
Nevertheless, this experience has been supported by many people in her journey.
“I like the support I get from teachers at [Owasso] High School … [But school] is completely different—just completely opposite—like [a full] 180 degrees.”
Nevertheless, Fozilbekova has come from a country that has a completely different education system than the United States. Not only is her country different, but Fozilbekova’s country is even distinctly dissimilar from other exchange students' countries. Fozilbekova is from Tajikistan, which is not a european country, and her country is considered a lower-income country. This is unlike a majority of OHS’s foreign exchange students.
Fozilbekova points out some main distinctions, asserting, “The main differences would be the status of women in society, the status of parents, how you treat your parents [and] the relationship between male and female.”
Fozilbekova goes on to highlight some more differences, but these differences relate to education.
“We have twenty one subjects in our senior year to complete in order to graduate. Every single day you have a different schedule. We have less sports, I would say the schools in Tajikistan don’t really have sports, [there are] no arts, no music [and] no theatre,” emphasizes Fozilbekova. “The relations with the teachers are different…In [American] schools, [students and teachers] respect each other, but you can also [be] understanding; you can talk [as] friends. In Tajikistan schools teachers are authority, and you cannot get personal.”
Another huge deviation from the status quo is Fozilbekova’s religion. Fozilbekova is Muslim, and this is in line with the standards in her country—as Tajikistan’s population has been estimated to be over 98% Muslim. Yet, in the United States, the largest religious sect is Christianity, which is yet another change that Fozilbekova has adapted to.
“I really appreciate all the respect that people here [are] trying to give me, celebrating my holidays and including me when they celebrate holidays.” I think my choice when it comes to religion, my spiritual life, [is respected]. [In Tajikistan], we don’t really have any churches or we don’t have places to worship for any other religion. But people here are a lot more respectful [of different religions],” Fozilbekova asserts.
Despite all of these deviations from normalcy, Fozilbekova has appreciated her time here.
“I met people who gave me a lot of support during a hard time adjusting here.”
The acceptance given to Fozilbekova has made her journey here remarkable. While this might be Fozilbekova’s final chapter here in the United States, Owasso High School won’t be a chapter that is forgotten about.